Deputies have arrested a man who kidnapped a woman at gunpoint from her Baton Rouge home. The man and woman were located in Gulfport, MS and deputies say the woman is in good health.
Jeremiah Rodriguez, 34, is accused of breaking into the home and abducting the woman, his ex-girlfriend. It happened in the 1800 block of Stafford Avenue, according to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office.
The woman has been identified as 33-year-old Viscaacuba James.
At around 6:15 Monday evening, officials learned that Rodriguez's vehicle was on Highway 49 in Gulfport. A traffic stop was made and the suspect was taken into custody without any problems. The victim was in the vehicle and was unharmed.
Deputies say Rodriguez held James, her three children and two cousins at gunpoint before leaving the home.
"There were children and two adults in the home," Casey Rayborn-Hicks, EBRSO, said. "At around noon today, he left the home with the mother, his ex-girlfriend. She did not go willingly."
Rodriguez fled the area in a silver, 2001 Chrysler Concord.
Officials say Rodriguez has an extensive criminal history.
A police report from January says Rodriguez was arrested and charged with domestic abuse, child endangerment and possession of marijuana. In the probable cause report, two witnesses report they saw Rodriguez punch the woman multiple times in the stomach with a closed fist. When police questioned him about it he stated "I know they didn't see me fight [the victim], because I shut the door before I did anything."
The probable cause report also says the victim's two children, under the age of 12, were in the room when the battery occurred.
No charges were filed for the January incident. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore says it was one of the children who called the Sheriff's Department about the abuse.
"The victim did not want to cooperate and said that nothing happened and that she was not hit," said Moore. "There were also substantial proof problems. Marijuana was fond, but only 1.5 grams. He was incorrectly booked for a felony drug when it was only a misdemeanor marijuana," he said.
Gulfport, MS authorities arrested Rodriguez and is in custody for warrants through EBRSO for aggravated burglary, false imprisonment and kidnapping. The FBI is leading the investigation.
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